Operating means for a slidable side jaw wrench



Sept. 19, 1961 A. s. AEGERTER 3,000,246

OPERATING MEANS FOR A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH Filed June 16, 1959 2 Sheelis-Shee'I 1 I new 7a R @awful/0544565651 Sept. 19, 1961 A. s. AEGERTER 3,000,246

OPERATING MEANS FOR A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH Filed June 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Shee't 2 FIGS FIGA United States Patent() 3,000,246 OPERATING MEANS FOR A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH August Samuel Aegerter, Wanderstrasse 19, Basel, Switzerland Filed June 16, 1959, Ser. No. 820,818 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-165) With a widely used type of adjustable Wrench having one fixed jaw and another jaw adjustably displaceable thereto the adjustment of the displaceable jaw is effected by means of an adjusting screw arranged in the head of the handle of the wrench. Wrenches of this type have the drawback that the adjustment of the displaceable jaw can be eiected relatively slowly only, and that in addition the operating screw is often very difficult to operate due to inaccessibility when the wrench is applied for instance to certain machine parts and the like if displaceable jaw has to be re-adjusted for the purpose of adaption.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks. Thus the invention relates to an adjustable wrenchl having a xed and a displaceable jaw and is characterized in that the displaceable jaw is under the control of an operating element positively connected thereto, said operating element being driven by a quickadjusting device.

FIG. l is a side view partly in vertical section of the wrench according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in vertical section of the Wrench -according to another embodiment of the Vinvention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view, partly broken away, showing the wrench according to a third embodiment thereof. i

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along a plane normal to FIG. 3. I

. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the wrench according to a fourth embodiment.

. FIG. 6 is a side view partly in vertical section of yet another embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a side view in vertical section of example of the invention.

In the embodiment according to FIG. l the reference numeral 1 designates a wrench handle, to the end of which is connected a head 2. Said head is-provided with a xed jaw 3 and a displaceable jaw 4, the latter moving in guide grooves 4 which are arranged obliqnely to the longitudinal axis of the handle 1. 'Ihe displaceable jaw 4 has an extension 5 engaging in a recess 6 of the head 2 of the wrench and being displaceable therein. The handle 1 and the head 2 are formed of two parts, namely a main body 7 and a coverplate-not evident in the drawing-secured laterally thereto, each part forming a portion of the handled as well as of the head 2. The recess 6 mentioned above is formed in the main body 7 and covered by the coverplate.

The handle 1 has a longitudinal lrecess 8 formed in the body 7, said recess being enlarged and open at its upper end. In the lower narrower part of the recess 8 there is located a spindle 9 with coarse pitch thread and carrying a slidable nut 10. The top end of the spindle 9 is connected to the iiattened end of a pin 11 in a manner not further shown, said pin carrying a screw 12 and being rotatably mounted in the arms Iof a U-shaped stirrup 13. The screw 12 engages a rack 14 longitudinally displaceably arranged in the enlarged part of the recess 8. The free ends of the arms of the stirrup 13 are provided with recesses which act as guides for the rack 14. The end of the rack 14 adjacent the displaceable jaw 4 has a transverse groove 14 in which a rib 14" of the displaceable jaw 4 is guided.

a further "ice The mode of use and operation of the wrench shown in FIG. l is as follows:

If the slidable nut 10 is moved towards the head 2, the spindle 9 is given a ro-tary movement and moves the pin 11 and the screw 12, which causes the rack 14 to be displaced in the direction of the arrow x and the. displaceable jaw 4 to be moved along the guiding grooves 4 towards the xed jaw 3 and-to grip a nut (not illustrated in the drawing) which is positioned between the two jaws.

IIf the slidable nut 10 is displaced in the opposite direction to the arrow, the rack 14 is moved in the opposite direction by the screw 12 by which the rack 14 is caused to draw the displaceable jaw 4 along the guiding grooves 4 back into its initial position.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, like parts are designated with the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment described above.

The top end of the spindle 9 is connected to the attened extension 11, which is located at the bottom side of a disc 15 pivotally mounted in the body 107 of the handle i101. The disc 15 carries a screw bolt 16, which is screwed into an internally screw-threaded sleeve 17. The top end of the sleeve 17 adjacent the displaceable jaw 4 has two opposite guiding slots engaging the guiding ribs 14" provided at the lower end of the extension 5 of the displaceable jaw 4. Y

Cooperating wth the sleeve 17 there is a cam 18 mounted for limited rotation about a pin 19. The cam 18 has an extension 20 coacting with the adjacent end of a two-armed lever 21 whose other end is provided with a grip 22, said lever being mounted on the pin 23 for limited rotation thereabout.

If the opening of the wrench jaws is to be decreased, the grip 22 is pulled out of the handle 1 iirst to move the extension 20 towards the sleeve 17 and to move .the cam 18 away from said sleeve so that the clamping action on the sleeve 17 is eliminated. Then the slidable nut 10 is moved in the direction `of the arrow x whereby the disc 15 and with it the screw bolt 16 are rotated clockwise causing the sleeve 17 to be moved upwardly and the displaceable jaw 4 to be displaced along the guiding grooves 4' towards the lixed jaw 3. If the displaceable jaw 4 is to be locked against an unintentional release from its adjusted position, the two-armed lever 21 is moved back to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the cam 18 is forced against the adjacent wall of the sleeve 17, preventing an unintended rotation of this sleeve and an unintended displacement of the displaceable jaw 4.

In the wrench according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the handle 101 comprises two spaced plates 25, 25. Between the two plates a slide 27 in operative connection with the displaceable jaw 4 and the operating elements therefor to be described below are located.

The slide 27 consisting of a at bar has at its end towards the displaceable jaw 4 an 'angled claw 27 the free end of which engage the opposite guiding groove 27" of the extension 5 of the displaceable jaw 4 which latter is arranged displaceably in the guiding grooves 4 like in the embodiments described above. Associated with the slide 27 are two similar plate cams 29, 30, which are carried by a rotary pin 31 or shaft mounted in the plates 25, 25 `and are odset from each other by 180. The plate cam 29 cooperates with the upper step 27 and the plate cam 30 cooperates with the lower step 27" of the slide 27. The pin 31 carries also `an actuating disc 32, which extends on one side beyond the plate 25 so that it can be turned with a thumb.

The mode of .use and operation of the wrench according to the embodiment last described is as follows:

lf the actuating disc 32 is turned in the clockwise direction the plate cam 29 acts on the step 2 of the slide 27, which is thus displaced towards the displaceable jaw 4, which is thereby moved towards the fixed jaw 3. This rotation of the actuating disc 32 and the Iplate cam 29 rotates fat the same time the plate cam 30 in the same direction, whereby the outer edge of cam 30 is caused to move along the step 27"'2 As both plate cams have the samershape and are olset by 180 from each other on the pin 31 the outer edge of the plate cam 29 will always acton its associated step 27' of the slide 27 during a rotation of the disc 32 whereas the plate cam 30 will `always engage the step 27 of the slide 27,

l `-abonnee f l' f- Various changes and modiications may be made withV y out departing from the spirit 'and scope of the present inwhereby an undesireddisplacement of the slide 27 and Y the jaw 4 is prevented, whereas a rotation .in the opposite direction causes the rising outer edge of the plate cam 30 to act on the step 27" and to withdraw the slide 27 in the direction opposite to the arrow, whereby the displaceable jaw 4 is moved away rom the iixed jaw 3. 25" is a set Yscrew, whereby the slide 27 can be locked in position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the actuating disc 32 is replaced by a .pinion 32', which is carried by the pin 31 mounted in the handle 101. This pinion is in mesh with a rack 33 provided with an actuating handle 35.

Y The wrench according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 diers yfrom the one shown in FIG. 1, in which like parts are designated with likeV reference numerals, essentially in that the Screw 12 disposed in the handle 301 Aengages Ia tooth sector 36 of a control lever 38 mounted for limited rotation about a pin 37. The end 39 of the control lever 38 remote lfrom the tooth sector 36 extends. into-a recess of the extension 105 of the dis placeable jaw 104. v

If the slidable nut is moved in the direction of the arrow x and thus rotates the screw 12 clockwise, then the control lever 38 is moved in the direction of the arrow y whereby the displaceable jaw 104 is carried along and moved towards the fixed jaw 3. If the slidable nut 10 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow x, then the displaceable jaw 104 is moved away from the fixed jaw 3 by the control lever 38. Y

' The wrench according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a development of the one shown in FIG. 2. For the sake of convenience, like parts are designated with like reference numerals. The internally threaded sleeve 117 mounted in the handle 401 has near its top end a semicircular bearing surface 40 for the toe 41 of the control lever 42 which is mounted for limited rotation about the pin 43. The toe 41 of the control lever has a curved lateral lug 44, which is overlapped by the retainer 45 at the top end of the sleeve 117. The end of the control lever'42 adjacent the displaceable jaw 104 extends into a'recess of the extension 105 of the displaceable jaw 104.

Ylf the slidable nut 10 .is moved .in the direction of the `arrow x, the screw bolt 16 is rotated clockwise under the control of the spindle 9 and thereby moves the internally threaded sleeve 117 upwardly to move the control lever 42 and with it the displac'eable jaw V104 in the manner described in connection with the 'above-mentioned embodiment If the slidable nut 10 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow x, fthen the sleeve 117 is moved downwardly, the toe 41 is carried along by the retainer 45, Iand the control lever 42 and with it the displaceable jaw v104 is moved into the position shown in the drawing.

vention and it is intended that such'obvious changes and modilications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus desoribedthe invention, what is claimed as new-and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A slidable side jaw wrench comprising a body having a xed jaw, a movable Vjaw mounting means slidably mounting said movable jaw on said body for movement towards and away from said fixed jaw, operating means for said movable jaw connected thereto and including a slide connected to said mounting means and having an upper step and a lower step thereon, a shaft journalled in said body, cam means on said shaft frorrengaging at least one of said steps to move said slide upon rotation of said shaft, and slide adjusting means for rotating said shaft mounted outwardly of said body.

2. A slidable side jaw wrench comprising a body having a iixed jaw, a movable jaw mounting means slidably mounting said movable jaw on said body for movement towards and awayvfrom said fixed jaw, operating means for said movable jaw connected thereto and including a slide connected to said mounting means and having an upper step and -a lower step thereon, a shaft journalled in said body, a pair of cams on said shaft, one of said cams engaging said upper step to move said slide in a rst direction upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, the other of said cams engaging said lower step to move said slide in the opposite direction upon rotation of said shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction, and quick adjusting means for rotating said shaft mounted outwardly of said body. 3. A slidable side jaw wrench according to claim 2, wherein said quick adjusting means includes a rack slidably mounted on said body, a gear fixed to said shaft, said rack engaging said gear.

4. An adjustable wrench comprising a body having a fixed jaw, a movable jaw mounting means slidably mounting said movable jaw on said body for movement towards and away from said fixed jaw, operating means for said movable jaw connected thereto and including a slide connected to said mounting means and having an upper step and a lower step thereon, a shaft journalled in said body, a pair of cams on said shaft, one of said cams engaging said upper step to move said slide in a first direction upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, the other of said cams engaging said lower step to move said slide in the opposite direction upon rotation of said shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction, and a friction wheel fixed on said shaft and extending outwardly of said body for vrotating said shaft.

References Cited in the le of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,376 McArthur May 2l, 1907 1,306,020 Nilson June 10, 19.19 1,391,180 Evans et al. Sept. 20, 1921 1,739,182 Schlote Dec. 10, 1929 1,915,396 Alemany .lune 27, 1933 2,322,550 Steinacher June 22, .1943 2,603,116 Schlote et al July 15, 1952 2,648,244 Alemany Aug. 11, 1953 

